Turning point: He tips the scales at more than 300 pounds, but there is an athletic side to PSU offensive tackle Garry Gilliam and the former tight end showed it by running down Syracuse defensive back Brandon Reddish at the PSU 27 on a fumble return, preventing a TD. Orange kicker Ross Krautman missed a 43-yard field goal and the Lions still led 13-10.

Surprise suspension: The Lions' offense struggled to develop any kind of rhythm in the first half, more than likely because they didn't have a receiver to stretch the field. Allen Robinson, the Lions' No. 1 option at wideout, was suspended by coach Bill O'Brien for the first half but returned in the third quarter. O'Brien wouldn't go into specifics. Robinson caught 77 passes for 1,013 yards and 11 touchdowns last season and dominated after intermission, catching 7 passes for 133 yards and a TD.

Dropping like flies: An already-thin PSU team lost senior tight end Matt Lehman to a knee injury in the first half. The Newport grad appeared to suffer a serious left knee injury on a pass play but the extent of the injury is still not known. Linebacker Mike Hull, tight end Kyle Carter and Stephen Obeng-Agyapong also appeared to be dealing with injury issues and Hull's injury, a knee, forced him out of the game.

Welcome to The Show: As expected, PSU head coach Bill O'Brien started true freshman quarterback Christian Hackenberg and there were some positives and negatives. Sophomore Tyler Ferguson also played briefly in the first half, completing his only pass. He also lost a fumble. And once PSU big-play wideout Allen Robinson (first-half suspension) joined the part in the second half, you witnessed Hackenberg's big right arm. Final numbers for Hack: 22 of 31, 278 yards, 2 INTs, 2 TDs.

Sights, sounds and items of interest: Spotted former PSU great Blair Thomas doing media interviews outside of the stadium prior to the game. Thomas, a running back and a 1989 All-American, was there with former Syracuse wide receiver David Tyree of New York Giants' Super Bowl fame. … Offensive guard John Urschel and linebacker Glenn Carson represented Penn State at the coin toss along with honorary captain Dave Robinson, a former PSU star who was inducted into the NFL Hall of Fame (Green Bay Packers) earlier this summer. …The Lions played 51 players in the first half and dressed 16 true freshmen for the game.

Who's next? Penn State hosts MAC lightweight Eastern Michigan Saturday at Beaver Stadium in its home opener. Kickoff is scheduled for noon.